Mbappé moved to left wing by Zidane: an "insane" choice for French media

Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal in France’s 0-1 victory in Turkey during the first matchday of the Nations League, but it was his position on the pitch that dominated post-match debate. Zinédine Zidane, appointed France manager following Didier Deschamps’ departure this summer, chose to move Mbappé to the left wing rather than deploy him as a central striker — the role where the Real Madrid forward has established himself in recent seasons. The player also left the match with an injury.

L’Équipe journalist Sébastien Tarrago did not mince words in criticizing the decision. “When you have a player who is arguably the best striker in the world, who played the World Cup he played, who carried the French team on his shoulders, and suddenly you put him on the left… But that’s insane. It’s completely insane,” he said.

Tarrago developed his argument by highlighting the tactical clarity that had prevailed until now. Top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League, and the World Cup during the past season, Mbappé had gradually established himself as a central forward both at Real Madrid and with the national team. “Things were finally clear. There were no more of these pointless debates about France’s team balance,” the journalist lamented, adding that Mbappé himself did not appear “happy” with the repositioning.

Beyond the tactical question, Tarrago also pointed out several organizational mishaps during this first gathering under Zidane: a late arrival for the national anthems and warm-ups deemed chaotic. “If it weren’t Zinédine Zidane, everyone would mock the new manager,” he said ironically, though acknowledging that these incidents remained “not very serious.”

This first match under the Zidane era thus leaves a mixed record: three points taken, but Mbappé leaving with an injury and a tactical choice already dividing opinion before the Nations League campaign has truly begun.